At half-time in the Group 6 Under 18 grand final of 1971, Terry Ashby could be forgiven for thinking 'oh not again.'
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Ashby's Moss Vale Dragons were trailing Campbelltown City 7-5 in the decider. Having gone close in recent years, the side were staring down the barrel of another year as bridesmaids.
However something happened in that second half, the final 40 minutes many of the players would spend together.
First, the late Peter Burgoyne, local footy and cricket legend, crashed over for a try before Tim Conforth barged his way through City's tiring defence to secure a remarkable premiership for the Dragons.
Having finished third in the regular season, many had written off the side but finals wins over Picton Magpies and Campbelltown Collegians set up a date with destiny.
Even the Berrima District Post applied the underdog tag to the boys from Mossy, with the team photo appearing under the headline 'They've done it the hard way so far' on the eve of the decider.
That spirit is alive and well over half a century later as the team prepares for a 50-ish year reunion weekend in February.
Ashby, whose father Abe managed the side, said it was a golden age for junior rugby league in Moss Vale.
"Junior league in Moss Vale dominated in that period from about 1966 through to the early 70s," he said.
"It was a golden era. In that side many went on to play first grade for Moss Vale for a long time.
"Eight of us that ended up playing in the grand final in 71 had all started together in 1965 in under 12s. We won the under 14's as well."
Although happy with two premierships Ashby, who is curating a reunion magazine, still thinks about '68, the one that got away.
"We lost by one point in the under 16's grand final which still really rankles us," he said.
"We thought we should have won that. We only lost one game that season, scored 300 points for and 30 against, whacked the team we lost to in the grand final both times we played them.
"Interestingly the coach of the Camden side that beat us had been our coach for the under 14's premiership in 1966. He knew all our favourite plays and who to take out of the game."
While not everyone will be present at the reunion, Ashby said it will be good to catch up with some old faces, even if they are missing a bit of hair.
"We've had two players pass away so out of 16 we are down to 11 for the reunion," he explained.
"It will be good to see all those bald heads! Back in '71 long hair was the go.
"Unfortunately two of our players now live in Western Australia so they can't attend. They didn't know they were living 10km from each other in Perth until I started getting in contact with people.
"Now they see each other!"
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